I lied. One more chapter after this one.
My Photonic Friend
By
James Doyle
Chapter Eleven
Lilly and Jackson accompanied Heather Truscott to the Reno airport to pick up her ex-husband. Never one to pay for parking, Dan Truscott, a short bespectacled man with a receding hairline, awaited them at the arrivals curve. He climbed into the shotgun seat, and leaned over to greet his ex with a kiss on the cheek before driving off.
"How's it going, Mr. T?" greeted Jackson.
"Can't complain," replied Dan. "And how about you? I don't see you for four years, and the next thing I know, you're marrying my daughter."
"Dan!" teased Heather. "You're making him uncomfortable."
"Relax, Jackson," assured Dan. "I was ecstatic to hear that Lilly had dumped that Oken punk for you."
"Well, thank you," replied Jackson, having learned long ago to take whatever compliments he could get.
"We could've given you a much more elaborate wedding if you'd waited a bit," noted Heather.
"We appreciate the thought," thanked Lilly, "But we figured a low-profile life should start with a low-profile wedding."
"Besides," added Jackson, "We couldn't get married without our best man."
"Ah, yes. Your photonic friend," surmised Dan. "I'm looking forward to meeting him."
The four of them traveled for about an hour before arriving at a small, family-owned hotel, connected to a small-but-elegant wedding chapel, in the Nevada desert. After getting her father settled in with Robbie Ray, his roommate for the weekend, Lilly and her mother met up with Miley, with whom Heather would be stayed. Miley greeted Heather with a hug, and they set about last minute preparations.
"Is it ready?" asked Lilly.
"Sure is," replied Miley, producing a garment bag from the closet. "I have to say, it gave my costume designer a run for her money."
Miley opened the garment bag to reveal a reasonable facsimile of a twenty-ninth century Starfleet dress uniform.
"Oh, Miley, it's perfect," swooned Lilly.
Miley scrunched her face. "If you say so."
Lilly and Heather both scowled playfully at Miley.
Miley smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Though I still think you could've gotten away with a white dress. Nobody pays attention to that old rule anymore."
"Um, Miley?" admonished Lilly, gesturing toward her mother.
"Relax," assured Heather. "I know what she's talking about. You'll be married soon enough."
Meanwhile, in the guys' room, Dan tried on his tux. Thankfully, it was a perfect fit, saving a very expensive last-minute trip to Reno.
"I'm curious, Mr. Truscott," inquired the Doctor. "How did you receive the news that your daughter was an alien?"
The accountant shrugged. "We always knew Lilly was different. It seemed like as good an explanation as any, so we really had no reason to doubt her."
"Seeing to her medical needs must undoubtedly have been a challenge," observed the Doctor.
"You have no idea," confirmed Dan. "Getting her broken collarbone fixed was one hell of a song and dance."
"I don't doubt it," said the Doctor.
"Speaking of which, have you removed that infernal device from her leg?"
The Doctor nodded. "Unfortunately, with the instruments and techniques at my disposal in your time, it's going to leave an unsightly scar."
The three of them looked over at Jackson, whose dopey grin indicated that he didn't care.
"We should have removed that thing years ago," regretted Dan. "But the doctors who found her had no idea what it was. They weren't willing to remove it, lest she need it to live."
The Doctor nodded. "A sensible precaution, given the available data."
"Would you listen to those two yammer on?" Robbie Ray asked Jackson as Dan and the Doctor segued into a discourse on opera.
"I'm trying not to," said Jackson.
The next morning, Lilly surprised her Maid of Honor with her calmness.
"Aren't you the least bit nervous?" asked Miley, clad in a simple, yet elegant purple bridesmaid dress.
"Why should I be nervous?" asked Lilly.
"Oh, I don't know," continued Miley. "Maybe because you're about to commit the rest of your life to one guy?"
"Are you trying to make me nervous?" asked Lilly.
"No," replied Miley. "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it," assured Lilly. "Anyway, I've waited a long time for the right man to come along. Now that I've found him, I don't want to waste any more time."
Miley smiled. "And to think, he was right under your nose for all those years."
"Sometimes quite literally," reviled Lilly, thinking back to Jackson's less hygienic days.
Jackson, on the other hand, was shaking like a leaf.
"Do you need me to give you a sedative?" snarked the Doctor, sitting patiently as his charge paced rapidly about the room.
"Could you?" requested Jackson.
"I was being facetious," clarified the Doctor.
"Why does she want to marry me, Doc?" asked Jackson. "She could do so much better."
"Define 'better,'" argued the Doctor. "More physically-attractive? More intelligent? More refined?"
"You're not helping, Doc," noted Jackson.
"To say the very least, Lilly is a unique young woman," continued the Doctor. "You've always been a friend to her, and in her time of greatest need, you offered her your acceptance, your support, and your affection. You offered these unconditionally, and without reservation. Is it really any wonder that she would reciprocate?"
"I guess you're right," conceded Jackson.
"Do you want to be with her?" asked the Doctor.
Jackson nodded. "More than anything."
"Then don't question it," exhorted the Doctor. "Embrace it."
The chaplain had seen smaller weddings in his chapel, but not many. Since Lilly and Jackson had opted to limit guest list to the inner circle, they occupied only the front pews, with Robbie Ray, Rico, and Agent McGee on the groom's side, and Heather Truscott on the bride's side, awaiting her ex-husband. Jackson stood at the altar, clad in his rented tux, with the Doctor at his side, clad in a Starfleet dress uniform. The chaplain had seen far stranger, and thought nothing of their wardrobe choices.
The pianist played a simple arrangement of Johann Pachabel's Canon in D as Dan Truscott slowed walked the aisle with tears in his eyes, with his daughter on his arm. Dan handed his daughter off to her soon-to-be-husband, and took his seat beside his ex-wife.
The chaplain continued with a fairly simple secular ceremony, during which Jackson and Lilly exchanged a very traditional set of vows. Since Lilly had asked Jackson not to buy her an engagement ring, it made the exchange of wedding rings all the more special in her mind.
"By the authority vested in me by the State of Nevada," announced the chaplain. "I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Jackson and Lilly kissed briefly, but affectionately, wanting to save their energy for later that night.
"Ladies and gentlemen," announced the chaplain. "It is my privilege to present, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Stewart."
The group applauded, then quickly made their exit, as another wedding followed close behind them. A reception for their extended families would occur later that summer in Tennessee. In the meantime, the group sat down to supper in a private dining room at the hotel restaurant.
"I believe it is customary for the Best Man to offer a toast," began the Doctor. "As per the groom's request, and in spite of my custom, I shall keep my remarks brief."
The group laughed.
"I've only known Jackson and Lilly for a short time," continued the Doctor. "However, it has been my privilege to share in their trials and tribulations, as well as times of jubilation. I have no doubt that you will continue to exhibit the same strength, courage, and dedication to one another as you face the perilous times ahead. Godspeed, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart!"
"Here, here!" seconded Robbie Ray, raising his glass. The group joined in the toast and drank.
"Well, sweetheart," said Dan to his daughter, "This has all happened so fast, I haven't had a chance to ask what your plans are for the future."
"Jackson and I are going to Santa Barbara next semester," answered Lilly. "I should be able to test out of enough classes to catch up to him. After that, we're thinking we'll set up our home base in Tennessee. We'd like to see as much of this world as possible while we still can."
"Once an explorer, always an explorer," added Miley.
Lilly smiled.
"Something like that," she said, gently squeezing her husband. "Oh, I almost forgot."
Lilly produced an envelope from her purse and handed it to the Doctor, who opened it and scanned it.
From: Lt. Cmdr. Lazura Lira, Second Officer, USS Eternity (NCV-331202)
To: Director, Temporal Integrity Commission, Starfleet Command
Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010
Subject: Formal Resignation
Circumstances lead me to conclude that I have been declared irretrievable by the Temporal Integrity Commission. It is therefore necessary and appropriate that, effective immediately, I resign both my position aboard the USS Eternity, and my commission as a Starfleet officer. The Mark I Emergency Medical Hologram known as Dr. David Stewart, who will deliver this communication, will provide a comprehensive report of my activities as of this writing. I believe that upon review, the Commission will deem my actions to have upheld the spirit of the Temporal Prime Directive, if perhaps not the letter.
Live Long and Prosper.
"Very well," said the Doctor. "On behalf of Starfleet Command, I accept your resignation, Commander."
That night, Jackson lay awake, with his new wife, with whom he'd just consummated their union, resting upon his bosom.
"What are you thinking?" asked Lilly.
"About the future," answered Jackson.
Lilly raised her head slightly and looked into his eyes. "I thought for sure you'd be sick and tired of the future by now."
"Considering the bearing it has on my present, I actually think the future's pretty cool," argued Jackson.
"How do you mean?" asked Lilly, knowing exactly what Jackson was talking about, but wanting to hear him say it.
Jackson gently stroked her hair as he spoke. "I have a beautiful alien wife, for starters."
Lilly giggled. "What else?"
"Well," continued Jackson. "Given all the pain and suffering humanity's been through...and all the pain and suffering yet to come...it does my heart good to know that it all meant something, and all said and done, the world's gonna turn out to be a pretty cool place."
"I guess that sort of peace of mind doesn't come easily to most people in our time," granted Lilly.
"No," agreed Jackson. "It really doesn't."
Lilly moved up to bring her face close to Jackson's.
"I'm glad I could give that to you," said Lilly. "I love you so much."
"And I love you," reciprocated Jackson.
With that, they kissed and made love with the sort of passion that they would never lose.
The next morning, the group headed down to San Bernardino County for the last time. The new Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Stewart said their goodbyes, starting with Tim McGee.
"So everything's all set?" asked Lilly.
McGee nodded. "A missile from the Marine base with a malfunctioning guidance system should arrive in about two hours."
"I can never thank you enough," said Jackson, gently squeezing his wife. "If it wasn't for you, I would've lost her forever."
"With this much at stake, it's the least I could do," replied McGee. "Look me up next time you're in Washington."
"We will," assured Lilly.
McGee extended his hand to Jackson, only to be drawn in for a hug, in which Lilly joined.
Next came Robbie Ray.
"I really wish mom had been around to see this," regretted Jackson.
"You and me both, son," said Robbie Ray as he embraced his son and daughter-in-law. "She would've really proud of both of you."
After that came the Truscotts.
"Well, Mr. T.," said Jackson. "It may have been a small wedding, but I can't thank you enough for the honeymoon in Australia."
"Please," insisted Dan, "You're family now, so it's Dan."
"We're on a tight schedule here," said Miley as she approached to say goodbye. "So I'll save the chit-chat for when y'all get back. I never pictured the two of you together, but I really should have."
"Hey, better late than never," said Lilly as she and Jackson hugged Miley.
"Just because you've got a gorgeous wife doesn't mean you're not still a loser," taunted Rico.
"Come here, you little jerkwad," commanded Lilly. "I'm only gonna do this once, so savor the flavor." Rico came forward, and Lilly kissed him on the cheek.
"Seriously, thanks for everything," she said.
"No problem," Rico said flatly, still slightly catatonic.
Jackson and Lilly saved their final goodbye for the Doctor. "Dr. David Stewart, is it?" observed Jackson.
"Yes," replied the Doctor. "'Cousin Dave from Canada,' as it were. As you've seen fit to make me a part of your family, it seemed apt to officially bear the name."
"You're welcome to it," offered Jackson. "It's the least we could do."
"We owe you everything," added Lilly.
"I'm the one indebted to you," replied the Doctor, who then embraced the new couple.
Jackson and Lilly stepped onto the transporter pad.
"Are you ready to give your final order, Commander?" asked the Doctor.
"I am," ordered Lilly, tears in her eyes. "Energize."
The rest of the group stood back as crackling energy swirls consumed the happy couple and their luggage, sending them on to Australia. After a few moments, Dan Truscott broke the silence with a joke.
"Well, at least I only had to pay for their return ticket," remarked Dan, prompting the others to break out in laughter. Immediately thereafter, they departed to an overlook on a nearby hillside.
"Are sure we have to do this?" pleaded Rico as they arrived. "I could've done things for Hannah Montana you've only dreamed of."
"This is way bigger than Hannah Montana," argued Miley. "The human race has to find its own way, in its own time."
A few minutes, a missile flew over their heads, creating quite a light-show as it collided with the old Chronowerx lab, reducing all of their futuristic technology to dust.
"Oh, I almost forgot," said Rico a moment later, producing a folder from his backpack. "I need your John Hancock on this invoice."
"Dang flabbit, Rico," cursed Robbie Ray. "This really isn't the time."
"Just look at it," groaned Rico.
Robbie Ray's eyes flew open wide as he examined the document. "Paid in full?"
"Yeah," confirmed Rico as he turned to face the Doctor. "I'm a cutthroat businessman, but I draw the line at slave-trading."
"Wee doggies!" exclaimed Robbie, not hesitating a moment to sign the invoice.
"We'd better get going if we're going to make Dan's flight," said Heather.
"Yeah, and I've got a ton of paperwork waiting for me back in Washington," lamented McGee.
"It was a pleasure meeting all of you," said the Doctor, shaking all of their hands before they jumped into Heather's SUV and departed.
"Are you sure you can't stay with us a while longer?" asked Miley.
"Unfortunately, yes," regretted the Doctor. "The subspace transceiver is set to reactivate my program upon detection of Voyager's comm signature. I need to make sure my emitter has enough power to continue scanning."
"Well I have to say," stated Robbie, "All said and done, it's been great having you around."
"And I'm privileged to have been a part of your lives," reciprocated the Doctor. "I hope you'll take comfort in the fact that the memory of you will live on as long as my program remains."
"I think that's the most encouraging thing I've ever heard," said Miley, her eyes becoming misty.
"Mr. Suave," requested the Doctor. "Will you do the honors one last time?"
"Computer," Rico said sorrowfully. "Deactivate EMH."
Miley put out her hand and caught the Doctor's mobile emitter, which she lovingly placed in the case Rico had fashioned for it. Rico connected the subspace transceiver, then closed the case and placed it in a self-sealing canister, along with a few other items. The three of them headed back to Malibu, where they would make preparations to send the Doctor onward to the future.
McGee arrived at NCIS Headquarters early the next morning and proceeded immediately to Director Vance's office.
"Come in, McGee," instructed Vance. "Close the door. Have a seat."
McGee did as instructed.
"So, I hear you managed to get in some work with the Los Angeles bureau while you were out," noted Vance.
"Yes, sir," confirmed McGee. "Hannah had a very busy schedule, leaving me some extra time to kill."
"I received a report about two weeks ago of a Nigerian-registered ship being destroyed in the North Pacific," reported Vance. "Apparently, they were performing illegal experiments with Soviet-built nuclear batteries."
"Yes, sir," confirmed McGee. "I was able to recover their surplus batteries and track down their supplier in Kazakhstan."
"Good work, McGee," praised Vance. "Are you sure that's all you did while you were gone?"
"Yes, sir," answered McGee.
"Very good," said Vance, closing the folder. "You've managed to accumulate quite a workload in your absence. I suggest you get to it."
"Yes, sir," said McGee, making his departure.
As soon as McGee departure, a faint specter of a Starfleet officer appeared in Vance's office.
"The Temporal Integrity Commission thanks you for your assistance, Director Vance," said the figure. "This could've been quite a fiasco if we'd been required to intervene directly."
"Glad to be of service, Captain," replied Vance. "Would you like me to bring Commander Lazura in?"
"That won't be necessary," declined the figure. "We can keep an eye on her from here. We'll contact you if we need anything else. Remember, this operation did not occur."
"What operation?" asked Vance.
"Precisely," said the figure, just before disappearing. "Dukane, out."
End of Chapter Eleven
The next chapter is actually the last, I promise! Stay tuned!